Alta Mae Christensen, 75, of Phillips, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Westfield Quality Care in Aurora. Alta is now free from the grip of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and our family is stronger than ever. Service and celebration of Alta’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the GI Free Church of Grand Island.
Reverend Daniel Brenton will officiate. Burial will be in Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-5 pm Sunday at All Faiths Funeral Home.
Alta was born December 26, 1943 in Carrington, North Dakota, the daughter of Arthur and Martha (Roemmich) Martin. She grew up on the family farm south of Harvey, ND and graduated from Harvey High School in 1961. Alta went on to attend nursing school in Kearney and received her LPN License in 1972.
On July 20, 1968, Alta married James “Jim” Christensen and they made their home in Grand Island before settling in rural Hamilton County. Over the years, Alta was a nurse at Lutheran Memorial Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, Mary Lanning, GIPS and the Grand Island VA Medical Center. She was also employed at various skilled nursing facilities and as a traveling nurse.
Alta’s spirit was reflected through her nursing care and in all walks of her life. Music was an important part of who she was. She played the accordion and piano and was a member of a band that traveled around and played for the residents of nursing homes.
Alta participated in the Accordian Jamboree and served as chairperson. She also played organ in various area churches. A wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, her family was vitally important to her.
She enjoyed traveling to ND to visit family and friends, also attending family reunions. She kept busy cooking, cleaning, canning, riding bike and ‘going for a run’. Jim and Alta were regular attendees of EFree Church, members of Liederkranz and York Czech Club.
Alta participated in the annual Red Cross Chili Cookoff. She was also a volunteer at the Nebraska State Fair, and worked part time at the Stuhr Museum and as a Para for GIPS. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Jim; her daughters and their families, Jocelyne (Chris) Rainforth and their son, Owen of Hooper, NE; Andrea (Jeff) Janzen of So.
Sioux City, NE; Lanette (Josh) Nelson and their son, Paul Jens “PJ” of Pickrell, NE; and Heidi (Mike) Musil of Lincoln. Other survivors include brothers, Ken (Sandy) Martin of Grand Island and David (Debra) Martin of Bismarck, ND; sisters, Dorothy (Lyle) Jacobsen of Kearney; Grace (Gil) Steedsman of Harvey, ND; Rachel (Craig) Gustafson of Phillips; Bev (Benny) Gumpolen of Sahuarita, AZ and Connie (John) Stober of Goodrich, ND; and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Richard Martin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Alta Mae Christensen please visit our Sympathy Store.
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